Reeba L. Hill

On Saturday, June 30, 2012 mother mercifully left this world of time to live forever in eternity. Her sweet strong spirit will be missed by many. Mother Reeba Louise Phillips began her earthly journey on September 14, 1925, in Ouachita County, Arkansas. She was the second child, oldest of three girls in a family of nine children born to Mattie and Lawrence Phillips. In 1934, the Phillips family moved "noath" to Cleveland, Ohio where "Hannah"(as she was dubbed by her dad so everyone followed suit) became re-acquainted with Eli Hill (whom she had a crush on since growing up together in Arkansas.). He had left school in 1941 to join the Army and while on leave visiting relatives in Cleveland, found "Ree-o" again. This renewed friendship led to a relationship leading to matrimony upon his discharge in 1945. Reeba was known for her cooking and her generosity. She used to say she could never be or stay a rich person because there were too many people in need. We the kids would watch closely certain people that would try to get to her once they learned of her soft heart. She would lend you her last dollar. Hannah was a diligent employee where she worked almost 30 years retiring as a supervisor in 1986. She was a dedicated, loving parent to their three daughters and four sons of whom preceded her in death approximately two weeks apart almost on year prior to her demise. Mother Hill was tireless willing worker for St. Andrews Baptist Church in Cleveland; however, kids grown and gone, job (except looking after Eli) gone, the lure of the fishing holes, Eli's dream to have his own bass boat, backyard gardening, honeysuckle; owning their own travel AND Reeba's dream of raising chickens beckoned their return to their native soil of Arkansas. They moved to Prescott in 1990 where the rejoined old friends and relatives at Union AME Church in Chidester. Eli's eyesight and waning of physical stamina prompted Mother Hill to learn to drive at the age of 1972. She gave up making the Chidester church trips because Eli couldn't see to drive himself but he could sure tell her how to. And Eli had been raised in the Holiness Church so they started lending more and more support to New Beginnings Church Of God In Christ in Prescott. Mother Hill had already claimed New Beginnings as her congregation just from visiting. She was preceded in death by her parents, her husband, Eli Hill, three of her sons, Curtis Hill, Marvin Hill and Melvin Hill. One might say she leaves us in the care of God (but knowing her she's in heaven up there looking at him) us being two brothers Earl Phillips of Cleveland and Doyce Phillips and his wife, Joyce, of La Puente, California; three daughters, Shirley Hill of Prescott, Sandra and her husband Alfred Coleman of Augusta, Georgia, Terry and her husband, Vincent Johnson of Cleveland, Ohio; one son, Eli and his wife Pat Hill of Cleveland, Ohio; two daughter-in-laws Rose Hill and Darlene Hill of Cleveland, Ohio, seventeen grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren. Submitted by the Hill Family. A service celebrating the life of Mrs. Hill will be held on Friday, July 6, 2012 at 11:00 a.m. at New Beginnings Church Of God In Christ in Prescott, Elder Herbert Adams is the pastor, Elder Charles Smith of Cleveland, Ohio will be the celebrant. The committal service and final resting place will be in DeAnn Cemetery.